Process for producing name plates and the like



Jan. 23, 1945. I R.`J GREGQRY 2,367,939

PROCESS FOR PRODUCING NAMEPLATES AND THE LIKE Filed Feb. 5, 1943 Emu/5l 'an Eem@ red.

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WITNESSES: v l INVENTOR maternas, i945 2,367,939

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE raocnss Fon Paonvomc NAME PLATES nom J. Gregory, anfrage, Md., assigns to westingliouse Electric `Manufactnring Company, m Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsyl- Appucation February 5. 1943, seal No. 14,888 4 claims. w1. 4142 a This inventionrelates to ferrous metal nameinitially subjected to cleaning operations to replates and the like, and more particularly `to a move grease and all surface dirt. For this purprocess for so applying protective organic tlnposewire brushing, sand blasting or acid pickling, ishes to ferrous metal sheets that the protective followed by degreasing in a solvent vapor apparannish functions both to produce predetermined 5 tus may be followed as is known to those skilled markings and to provide for goodA corrosion proin the art. In some cases. anodic cleaning in an tection for the metal. A alkaline bath will produce surfaces of the requi in applying organic finishes to ferrous metal site cleanliness.

in sheet form in producing nameplates, indicia In order-.to illustrate the practice of the invenand other members of similar nature, the problem tion, reference should be had to the figure ofthe of securing a goed corrosion-resistant coating on drawing in which the step A illustrates a steel the ferrous metal is as important as securing a sheet I0 upon which it is desired to produce the clear and legible marking -design or indicia. It markingA or indicia W I2 in a Protective nih has not been economical or easily feasible to of one color, for example. a black enamel, and combine a high degree of legibility in markings a ground finish Il of a constrasting color, for consisting of organic nisheswith good surface example, a white enamel. coverage. In order to secure good coverage of In order to produce the marking on the clean the surfaces of the'ferrous metal sheet, it is a steel sheet, the surface is initially coated with a requirement that any fprotective finish applied layer of photo-sensitive emulsion I6 appliedto cover the metal surface as completely as possible. one entire surface thereof. `In case the sheet III In order to secure a sharp andy keasily legible is of such dimensions and the desiredmarking is marking, it is generally necessary t0 apply oronly a small part thereof, it may be feasible to ganic nishes in such affashion that there is no apply the emulsion'to the small area at which overlapping of tlie finishes. Obviously, it is diilithe marking is to be produced. The photo-sensicult to meet this lastl requirement and still protive emulsion is of such a nature that, when subvide for as complete a coverage as possible. jected to photo-printing, certain portions of the The object of this invention is to provide for emulsion maybe removed, whereas other portions so applying protective organic finishes of diiferare rendered relatively non-removable and ad ent color to ferrous metal platesA as to provide here to the surface of the sheet.- By photo-printfor predetermined legible markings while furing a predetermined marking/pattern or design rushing a high degree of corrosion protection to on the emulsion, the emulsion is rendered selecthe metal. l tively removable at predetermined portions.

Other objects of the invention will in part b As shown at A, a "W has been photo-printed obvious and will in part appear hereinafter. on the emulsion'. Upon removing the emulsion For a fuller understanding of the nature and at these portions, generally by washing with waobjects of this invention, reference should be had ter or some other suitable solvent, the bare metal to the ligure of the drawing showingschemati- .surface is exposed in a predetermined pattern cally the sequence of steps necessary to produce corresponding to the photo-print. The exposed the article of this invention. l Y metal can then be etched in the normal way, for

H eretofore in. producing nameplates and the-4o example. in hydrochloric acid. AS Shown in Step like, it has lbeen. customary to use as a base a 13 ofthe drwil18.the etched portion'll. which :metal which is inherently` corrosion-resistant. is a greatly enlarged section along B-Bin step Such metals asMonel metal, stainless steel, alu- A, has been selectively etched .by an acid leaving iminum, copper and brass have been selected for the surface 2l in relief. Etched` depression I8 substantially all applications requiring -name Y 45 is of a depth Such that it corresponds to the cusplates and the like.- According to this in ventomary thickness -of a coating ofV protective or@ tion, less expensive and more easily obtainable sonic mish- HOWeVel'. the del-12hy 0i etch may metals have been found to produce highly satis-U be varied withindesired limits.

factory nameplates which ,will meet all the reVY Subsequently, the emulsion ii is removed from quirements for which more expensive base metals 50 the surface 'ofthe plato Il by pplyln 9L Solvent are employed. i Y f therefor, for example, ay mixture ofnitric acid in practicing this inventiommild steel sheetsr' 'j and hydrochloric acid The upper surface of for example, coldrolled steel, or clean hot rolled.- plate Il as shown in step C carriesan etched steel sheet, or in some cases cast'iron plates.V may mrkilw corrcspondin t0 that desired.

be ysatisfactorily.-employed. [The ferrous metal is For some purposes of the invention, 'the plate I in step C may be treated with rust-proofing substances in order to confer on the ferrous metal an increased corrosion-resistance. For

instance, phosphate solutions maybe applied the general relief of the surface of the sheet.`

'Ihe entire surface of the steel sheet I0, with l or without rust-proofing treatment, is painted with a coating of protective organic finish of substantially uniform thickness within the etched depression I8 and on the relief 20. The back of the steel plate may be similarly painted, if it be desired. Spray painting 'is a satisfactory method of applying the finish. As shown at step D, the surface 20 and the etched depression i8 are now provided with a coating, for example, of white enamel 22, so that the enamel surface 28 in the etched depression I8 is belowthe enamel surface 24 as applied to the relief 20. The white enamel or any other protective organic finish isbaked or dried until it is of a sufficient hardness.

In producing excellent nameplates, heat setting or polymerizing urea aldehyde, glyceroi phthalate or melamine resin enamels have been found to`be quite satisfactory due to their gloss and other characteristics. Such enamels need be baked at a temperature of 400 F. for aboutrelief surface 24 of the White enamel by means. .of a roller.

As is illustrated at step E in the oven at a temperature of 350 C. for fifteen minutes, in case a urea aldehyde type of enamel is employed. After baking, the sheet is cooled and dipped into a solvent for the lithograph ink. Stoddard solvent or naphtha may be employed as solvents for the lithograph ink. The lithograph ink dissolves readily in such solvent, and the overlapped portion of ythe black baking enamel 30 may be easily removed by wiping with a felt or other material. It will be found that a sharp line will be secured between the black enamel 28 and the white enamel 22, whereby a high degree of legbility is secured.

The nameplates may now be pierced for attaching holes or blanked if a plurality of separate nameplates have been produced on one sheet of steel. To protect the edges of the ferrous plate from corrosion lafter being punched or pierced, it may be desirable to apply a coating of transparent lacquer or other transparent coating 32 to the entire sheet l0. The transparent lacquer will afford increased protection' finish has been so applied as to substantially drawing, the depressed surface 26 of 'the white enamel is not coated with the lithograph ink 28.

Lithograph ink suitable for the practice of this invention consists of a boiled linseed oil which has been heat treated 'at a high temperature to an exceedingly viscous state. Carbonaceous pigments are added and turpentne or other solvent to give a desirable viscosity. `For the -purpose of this invention, lithograph ink or an equivalent varnish or other coating composition that may be heat treated at a high baking temperature without becoming insoluble or evaporating or being destroyed, 1s preferred. It is desired that the lithograph ink or its equivalent be such that the ordinary protective organic finishes will bake hard and dry'in an ovento a relativelyinsoluble state While the ink is still soluble.. The sheet Il at stage E is then 4sprayed or brushed o otherwise treated Ato deposit in depression 26 a protective organic finishof a -diering or contrasting color to the white enamel 22. The entiresurface may be Y sprayed in the case of small objects, while in large nameplates or other members the concover all exposed surfaces. 'I'he indicia or markings have been so applied that. their juncture is sharp and the legibility is high, It will be found that the resultant painted surfaces 22-38 of the nameplates are of vsubstantially the same level whereby there is' no tendency for the indicia to be selectively abraded, thereby tending to illegibility with wear.

Since certain obvious changes may be made in the above procedure and different embodiments of the invention can be made without departing from the scopethereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description shall Vbe interpreted `as illustrative and not in a limiting sense..

I claim as my invention:

1. The method of producing a steel sheet with protective surface finishes of different color applied .thereto so as to produce predetermined markings thereon and to secure adequate corrosion resistance, comprising, in combination, applying to the surface of the steel sheet a photo sensitive coating which when subjected to a photo-printing can be treated to selectively etch the surface of the steel sheet, photo-printing a predetermined marking on the photo-sensitive coating, subjecting the photo-printed coating to an etchant to etch the surface ofthe steel sheet,

)thereby producing a relief pattern, removing the surface without filling in the etched portions. applying a second coating of 'an organic finish of a contrasting color to the ground coating color to the etched portions, the lithograph ink preventing bonding of the ground coating and the contrasting color coating upon the relie! surfaces,

and applying a solvent for the' lithograph ink when the organidflnishes have dried wherebyy to remove the lithographink and the portions of the second coating on the relief. thereby producing a steel sheet with surfaces having predetermined markings of contrasting coloring thereon.

2. The method of producing a steel sheet with protective surface finishes of different color applied thereto so as to produce predetermined markings thereon and to secure adequate corrosion resistance, comprising, in combination, applying to the surface of the steel sheet a photosensitive coating which when subjected to a l photo-printing can be treated to selectively etch the surface of the steel sheet, photo-printing a predetermined marking on the `photo-sensitive coating, subjecting the photo-printed coating to an etchant to etch the surface of the steel sheet, thereby producing arelief pattern, removing the photo-sensitive coating, applying to the entire surface of the steel sheet a ground coating of protective organic nish of a selected color, ap-

` plying lithograph ink to the relief portion of the surface without filling in the etched portions, applying a second coating of an organic nish of a contrasting color to the ground coating color to the etched portions, the lithograph ink preventing bonding of the ground coating and the contrasting color coating upon the relief surfaces, applying a solvent for the lithograph ink when the organic finishes have dried whereby to remove the lithograph ink and the portions of the second coating on the relief, thereby prolll ducing a steel sheet with surfaces having predetermined markings of contrasting coloring thereon, and applying a transparent protective finish over the markings.

3. The method of producing a steel sheet with protective surface finishes of different color applied thereto so as to produce predetermined markings thereon and to secure adequate corrosion resistance, comprising, in combination, applying to the surface of the steel sheet a photo-sensitive coating which when subjected to a photo-printing can be treated to selectively etch the surfaceV of the steel sheet, photo-printing a predetermined marking onthe photo-sensitive coating, subjecting the photo-printed coating to an etchant to etch the surface of the steel sheet to a depth substantially equal to the thickness of a coating of organic nish, thereby producing a relief pattern, removing the photo-sensitive coating, applying to the entire surface of the steel sheet a ground coating of protective organic finish of a selected color, applying lithograph ink to the relief portion of the surface without filling in the etched portions, applying a second coating of an organic finish of a contrasting color to the ground coating color to the `etched portions to a level substantially of the level of the coated relief, the lithograph ink preventing bonding of the ground coating and the contrasting color coating upon the relief surfaces, and applying a solvent for the lithograph ink when the organic finishes have dried whereby to remove the lithograph ink and the portions of the second coating on the relief, thereby producing a steel sheet with surfaces having predetermined markings of contrasting color thereon. 4. TheY method, of producing a ferrous sheet with protective surface flnishesthereon of different color applied thereto so as to produce markings and to secure adequate corrosion resistance, comprising, in combination, applying to the surface of the ferrous sheet a photo-sensitive coating which when subjected to photo-printing can be treated with an etchant to selectively etch the surface of the ferrous sheet, photoprinting a predetermined marking on the photosensitive coating, applying an etchant to etched portions of the ferrous sheet thereby producing a relief pattern, removing the photo-sensitive coating, applying a substance for imparting a corrosion-resisting surface to the ferrous sheet without impairing the relief pattern, applying to the entire surface of the ferrous sheet a sub stantially uniformly thick coating. of a protective organic nish of a selected color, applying a lithograph ink to the relief' portions only, applying a second organic finish coating of a different color than the first coating of organic Vnish to the etched portions, the lithograph ink preventing adherence or bonding of the second coating to the rst coating upon the relief surfaces, treating the ferrous sheet to dry the organic finishes, subjecting the sheet to a solvent for the lithograph ink to remove the lithograph enamel and that portion of the second coating upon the relief surfaces, and applying a transparent protective finish over the markings so produced.

ROYAL J. GREGORY. 

